Cabral snags media advertisement in FEC auction

By Kaya Ginsky

This week, with the election heating up and polling beginning, the FEC gave the candidates their first opportunity to publish a pop-up ad on The Daily Derenberger. FEC Chairman Ryan Derenberger begn the auction at a minimum of $50,000.

The auction started as a back-and-forth bidding war between each of the 6 candidates. When the stakes rose to $62,500, tensions began to rise and only 3 candidates remained in the bidding.

After Derenberger asked for $65,000, campaign manager for Democrat Alli Hammoud, Harrison Starr shot his hand up, to which Hammoud responded “No man, what? Put your hand down.”

Republican Senator Mizuki Brent was quick to state her willingness to pay the $65,000, beginning her battle with Democrat Senator Grace Cabrall. Brent dropped out of the auction after Derenberger announced “you still have to pay a bit to produce it.”

Senator Cabrall bid the highest and will be paying $85,000 for the first week of advertisements.

“I feel like the first week is a really important time to get your face known for the whole election race,” Cabrall said. “If people start to recognize me early, they will continue to recognize me later and when they go to the polls.”

Tomorrow, the candidates will fight for campaign funding as they discuss their policies with Interest Groups. Cabral is confident that she will be “able to regain what I spent on this advertisement through their endorsements.”